Ring Of Honor Announces World Title Match For 17th Anniversary

JAY LETHAL VERSUS MATT TAVEN FOR THE ROH WORLD TITLE WILL HEADLINE 17TH ANNIVERSARY

Las Vegas is known for big fights and bright lights, so what better city for The Best Wrestling on the Planet to celebrate its birthday in? On March 15 at Sam’s Town Live in Sin City, Ring of Honor presents its 17th Anniversary show live on pay-per-view and for HonorClub VIP.

The show takes place three weeks before the historic G1 Supercard at sold-out Madison Square Garden, so what happens at 17th Anniversary in Vegas will not stay in Vegas; the ramifications will surely be felt at The World’s Most Famous Arena in New York City on April 6.

A huge main event has been signed for 17th Anniversary, as ROH World Champion Jay Lethal puts his title on the line against Matt Taven in a showdown that has been brewing since the summer.

ROH WORLD TITLE MATCHROH WORLD CHAMPION JAY LETHAL vs. MATT TAVEN

Ever since Lethal regained the ROH World Title in a Four Corner Survival Match in June by defeating then-champion Dalton Castle, Taven and Marty Scurll, Taven has been claiming that he is the rightful champion. He points to the fact that he had Castle pinned for eight seconds (with a handful of tights, by the way), but the referee was busy checking on Lethal, who had taken a knee to the head from Taven. The referee finally turned around to count the pin, but Castle kicked out at two.

After Lethal successfully defended the title against Will Ospreay at Death Before Dishonor in September, Taven and fellow Kingdom members TK O’Ryan and Vinny Marseglia attacked Lethal. That’s when Taven unveiled his customized title belt and began calling himself the real world champion.

Lethal ignored Taven at first, but he eventually grew tired of Taven carrying around his replica belt and claiming to be the true champion. During one heated encounter between the two of them outside the ring, Taven spit on Lethal’s title belt and a brawl ensued.

Things further escalated during ROH’s international television taping in Lakeland, Fla., this past weekend. Lethal gained possession of Taven’s belt and proceeded to destroy it with O’Ryan’s bat and Marseglia’s ax.

An irate Taven got a measure of revenge later that night. After he, O’Ryan and Marseglia attacked Lethal, Taven put the champion through a table with an elbow drop off the top rope.

At 17th Anniversary, these two bitter enemies will finally settle things in the ring. Will Lethal prove once and for all that Taven is a pretender to the throne? Or will Taven capture the only championship in ROH that has eluded him?